West Alabama defensive back Anthony Robinson Jr., one other killed in two-vehicle crash Sunday

Anthony Robinson Jr. was one of two people killed in a Sunday afternoon traffic accident.

File photo | The Tuscaloosa News

By Andrew CarrollSports Writer | The Tuscaloosa News

Published: Monday, September 2, 2013 at 12:30 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, September 2, 2013 at 12:30 p.m.

Anthony Robinson Jr., a star football player at Linden High School, seemed to have a promising future as a University of West Alabama freshman. But instead of cheering him on both schools are now hurting.

Anthony Robinson Jr. was one of two people killed in a Sunday afternoon traffic accident.

File photo | The Tuscaloosa News

Robinson, 19, lost his life in an automobile accident Sunday afternoon.

A report from the Alabama State Troopers said the two-vehicle crash occurred at 4:50 p.m. on U.S. Highway 43, two miles south of Linden. Robinson was killed when the Chevrolet Blazer he was driving collided with an International truck driven by Leonard Essex of Demopolis.

Christopher Boykin, 12, of Demopolis also died in the wreck. Boykin was a passenger in Robinson's vehicle. Linden coach Andro Williams said Robinson and Boykin were cousins.

Essex was injured and transported to Bryant Whitfield Hospital in Demopolis for treatment, according to the troopers' report.

A three-time All-State selection at Linden, Robinson signed a UWA scholarship offer in February. He stood only 5-foot-9 and weighed 155 pounds, but he was fast. In May, he won the 100-meter dash during the AHSAA Class 1A championship meet, posting a time of 11.41 seconds.

“He told me he was going to win the 100,” Williams said. “He won the sectionals pretty easy. I told him, 'Anthony, if you win the 100 meters, I will buy you a dinner.' He went out and won it and had a smile on his face the whole time.”

Robinson was listed as a defensive back on the West Alabama roster. UWA coach Will Hall and Williams both said Robinson had the “it” factor, the kind of personality that drew people to him.

“He was excited about the opportunity he had,” Williams said. “I was glad to see him have the opportunity to go play.

“He always had a great attitude. He had that 'it' factor — whatever 'it' is — that was within his personality. I think that's the way he lived life.”

UWA is an NCAA Division II school. Williams said some schools in higher classifications might have overlooked Robinson because of his size.

“Those were the cards we were dealt,” Williams said. “But I would put his film up against anybody.

“I told the coaches at West Alabama that he was a guy who just enjoyed life. They were getting a better kid than they were an athlete, but at the same time he was a dang good football player.”

When Robinson signed in February, he said, “I'm not an emotional type guy, but it felt very good to sign those papers to attend the University of West Alabama. It's a great day for me and my mom, dad, my sister. I wouldn't trade this day for anything.”

Williams said Robinson became a starter as a defensive back when he was an eighth-grader and started at quarterback as a freshman. In 2011, Linden advanced to the championship game in Tuscaloosa and finished as the runner-up to Marion County.

Robinson led the Patriots to an 11-2 record in 2012. Linden reached the third round of the playoffs before losing to eventual champion Brantley.

Following his senior year, he was named to The Tuscaloosa News' Super 11 and was a first-team All-State defensive back. On defense, he had 62 tackles, three interceptions and scored twice. On offense, he rushed for 818 yards and 12 touchdowns and threw for 1,036 yards and 12 touchdowns, including five in one game.

“We could be in the heat of the moment in a physical battle, and he acted like he was having a good time,” Williams said. “You'd like to see every kid play the way he did. And he didn't just do it when the lights came on. He practiced that way.”

Hall conducted practice with the UWA Tigers Monday morning before making a trip to visit Robinson's parents.

Hall said most of the first-string defensive backs and punt returners this season are seniors, so he expected Robinson to have a “bright future.”

“Anthony was a tremendous young man, always happy,” Hall said in a statement released by UWA. “He had that rare 'it' factor that is difficult to explain but very easy to see. People were drawn to Anthony and he to them. Very rarely does a freshman impact a team right away, but Anthony had already had a tremendous impact on our football team in a very short time.

“He was a great player, but an even better person. That is so painfully obvious by the way the entire town of Linden and our football team are hurting right now.

“He embraced the AIE (Attitude Is Everything) mentality of our program, and we will continue to press forward because we believe that's what Anthony would want us to do.”

West Alabama opens at home in Livingston Saturday. The Tigers face Clark Atlanta University at 11 a.m.

Linden plays its second game at home Friday night, hosting J.U. Blacksher in a Region 1 game.

Williams said he planned to have his players gather on Monday afternoon, but he wasn't sure they would practice.

“Right now we have to try to put all the pieces together,” Williams said. “A lot of these kids were having to get consoled last night and this morning.

“We need to get these kids to understand that the Lord don't make no mistakes. It was Anthony Robinson's time, and they need to understand that part of it and respect that part. You don't ever want to take anything for granted in this world. You want to be able to seize every situation. It's definitely a time for prayer and a time to console and show love for these young men.”

Reach Andrew Carroll at andrew.carroll@tuscaloosanews.com or at 205-722-0223.